It can be life-saving to understand the most common mistakes to avoid when filing for disability insurance benefits. This is especially true because the application process for disability benefits comes with various steps, each of which includes the possibility of making a mistake. Maintaining disability benefits can be just as challenging, depending on the disability. Knowing what these mistakes look like may help you avoid making them yourself. Feel free to ask a Pennsylvania denied benefits appeal lawyer about what legal steps you can take.

Common Disability Benefits Application Mistakes

There are a variety of disability benefits mistakes that can be made during almost any point of the application process. Being aware of these can help you avoid them yourself. Then you can take steps to increase your chances of receiving the disability benefits you need.

The first mistake is something that not everyone realizes can be a mistake. Applying for disability benefits too soon or at the wrong time can impact eligibility for benefits. If you apply too soon, when your disability is still developing, important symptoms might be missed. At the same time, waiting too long to apply may create problems when medical records become outdated.

Applying for disability benefits while receiving other benefits from retirement or unemployment programs can lower disability benefits payments. Not keeping up with requested information and documentation during the application process may delay benefits or lead to denied benefits. Other common mistakes may lead the Social Security Administration (SSA) to deem people as failing to cooperate:

• Not submitting requested information or documents
• Missing scheduled appointments
• Not showing up to interviews
• Stopping medical treatment
• Ignoring medical advice from your doctor
• Refusing to answer questions
• Leaving out symptoms of other disabilities

Try contacting a Pennsylvania disability lawyer who can help you navigate the complex disability benefits application process. An experienced lawyer can help you avoid and overcome these common mistakes. You do not have to do this alone.

Mistakes that Impact Disability Benefits Eligibility

Some mistakes impact disability benefits eligibility more than others. The top reasons for denied disability benefits revolve around not meeting the basic eligibility criteria. These eligibility criteria involve:

• Meeting the definition of a disability
• Work history or monthly income requirements
• Sufficient medical evidence

It is important to understand how the SSA defines a disability when applying for benefits. The SSA does not offer benefits for short-term or partial disabilities. What the SSA does provide benefits for are disabilities that are expected to last a year or lead to an early death.

Social Security Disability Insurance requires a certain number of work credits obtained from work history. In contrast, Supplemental Security Income requires someone to make under a certain level of monthly income. Lastly, medical evidence is important not only to establish your disability diagnosis but also to determine how the disability impacts work performance.

Call Edelstein Martin & Nelson Today

Applying for disability benefits can be a tedious and confusing process. Do not hesitate to call a Pennsylvania individual disability insurance attorney to find out what steps you can take to increase your chances of receiving disability benefits. Contact Edelstein Martin & Nelson today at (800) 300-0909 for a consultation about your situation. Our legal team is ready to guide you through various legal options.